Legendary Mount Ararat

Itinerary

• DAY 1

  Arrival at Van airport and transfer to Dogubeyazit via Muradiye waterfalls

  Meet at the Van airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to Dogubeyazit. On route we take time to visit Muradiye waterfalls, a paradise of natural beauty. A quite large waterfall, around 10m tall in a small forest area, where a bridge suspends over the river and it gives you a great view.

  Dogubeyazit is a settlement with a long history southwest of Mount Ararat, the highest summit of Turkey and resting place of Noah’s Ark. The area has had a rich history since it was settled during the times of the first Armenian kingdom of Urartu; later was subsequently conquered by Persians, Romans, Arabs and Byzantines all of whom would have used the plain to rest and recoup during their passages across the mountains. We spend the night in Dogubeyazit at the hotel.

  Transfer time: 2 - 3 h; transfer distance: 180 km (Van to Dogubeyazit)

  ON: in Dogubeyazit at the hotel

  Meals:   - / - / D

• DAY 2

  Dogubeyazit to camp I (base camp 3.200m)

  After breakfast we load our luggage and camping equipment on our vehicle and drive via Topcatan village to Eli village (2.000m). Between an altitude of 2.000 and 2.400m (according to road conditions) we will start our trek. Our luggage will be carried by mules and horses, we only have to carry our own daily-backpack. On the way it’s possible to meet some semi nomadic families, who use the fresh green plateaus of the Ararat for their sheep’s and flocks. We hike up to our first campsite (base camp) which is established at a height of 3.200m.

  Walking time: 4 h; ascent: approximately 1.200m (depending on road conditions & starting point)

  ON: at the Ararat camp 1 (base camp 3.200m)

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 3

  Acclimatization day to camp II (high camp 4.200m) and return to camp I (base camp 3.200m)

  Today we will climb up to 4.200m for acclimatisation. High altitude is defined as altitudes greater than 3.000m and AMS (acute mountain sickness) may appear above this level. After an easy ascent we will arrive at the Kum-Kampi at a height of 3.700m where we will have time to take a break. Later we continue our ascent to camp II (high camp) at 4.200m where we will have our second camp on next day. Here we take time to have a picnic and to use the time to acclimatise to the conditions at this height. Afterwards we descent down to our base camp at 3.200m on the same way and prepare ourselves for the next day to move up to second camp.                                                               

  Walking time: 5 - 6 h; ascent/descent: 1.000m

  ON: at the Ararat camp 1 (base camp 3.200m)

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 4

  Ascent to camp II (high camp 4.200m)

  In the morning we leave our base camp and climb up to the second campsite at a height of 4.200m. After arrival and a cup of warm tea, we set up our tents and take a little rest.

  In the afternoon it is possible (optionally) to go a little bit higher to get acclimatized for conditions of this height.

  In the evening we will have dinner a little bit earlier today as we will go sleeping early in the evening to wake up very early in the morning to be rested and ready to climb Ararat summit.                                                                                                   

  Walking time: 3 - 4 h; ascent: 1.000m; descent: 0m

  ON: at the Ararat camp 2 (high camp 4.200m)

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 5

  Mount Ararat summit ascent 5.137m and return to camp I (base camp 3.200m)

  Very early in the morning, at around 02:00 and 02:30 am we will have breakfast and afterwards start our ascent to the summit at around 03:00 or 03:30 am to get a good view at the sunrise on the top. After a long ascent through a rocky terrain we reach the glacier at 4.750m, where we fix our crampons. Afterwards we continue our ascent to the summit, where we can see, if the weather is clear, Mt. Damavand in Iran, the Elbrus in the Caucasus and the Kackar Mountains near the Black Sea.

  We enjoy the great panoramic view from the summit and afterwards start descending back again via high camp down to our base camp at 3.200m where we spend the night.

  Walking time: 9 - 10 h; ascent: 937m; descent: 1.937m

  ON: at the Ararat camp 1 (base camp 3.200m)

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 6

  Camp I (base camp 3.200m) to Dogubeyazit & Ishak pasha palace

  In the morning we hike down to the village of Eli where our vehicle is waiting to drive us down to Dogubeyazit. After having lunch at a local restaurant, we take time to visit Ishak pasha palace; built on a hill at the side of a mountain. It was the last large monumental structure in the Ottoman Empire from the "Lale Devri" period. It is one of the most distinguished and magnificent examples of the 18th century Ottoman architecture and is very valuable in terms of art history. The palace was also an administrative complex from which Ishak pasha dominated the trade along the Silk Road, it was a major stop for caravans crossing the legendary roadway to bring goods all the way from China to Turkey and back again. We spend the night in Dogubeyazit at the hotel.

  Walking time: 3 h; ascent: 0m; descent: between 800 and 1.200m

  ON: in Dogubeyazit at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 7

  Dogubeyazit to Van, visit Akdamar Island & Van castle (citadel)

  In the morning we leave Dogubeyazit and drive to Van, known as "the pearl of the east" because of the beauty of its surrounding landscapes, situated in a green, fertile oasis in the midst of a mountain area. The city has a long history, under the ancient name of Tushpa it was the capital of the Urartian kingdom in the 9^th century BC and once especially famous for its jewellers' bazaar on the Silk Road and for its fine silverwork.

  After arrival and check in at the hotel we drive to Gevas town where we take the ferry to visit small island of Akdamar in Lake Van, home to the famous 10^th century Armenian holy cross cathedral. The unique importance of the church comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls.

  Later we continue to Van castle, constructed by Urartian king Sardur, a massive stone fortification and the largest example of its kind. It overlooks the ruins of Tushpa, the ancient Urartian capital during the 9^th C, which was centred upon the steep sided bluff where the fortress now sits. The most remarkable structures around are the rock tomb of Argisti the first, outside which is a long inscription relating the events of his reign and the inscription of Xerxes the great upon a smoothed section of the rock face.

  In the late afternoon/early evening we return to Van city centre, where we spend the night at the hotel.

  Transfer time: 2 - 3 h; transfer distance: 180 km (Dogubeyazit to Van)

  Transfer time: 30 min.; transfer distance: 45 km (Van to Gevas / one way)

  Ferry to Akdamar Island: 15 - 20 min. (one way)

  ON: in Van at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 8

  Trip concludes at Van airport

  After breakfast; transfer to Van airport where the trip concludes.

  Transfer time: 15 min.; transfer distance: 10 km (hotel in the city centre to Van airport)

  Meals:   B / - / -